In light of the unbearable death and devastation caused by the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons, the IPU and its Standing Committee on Peace and International Security join international efforts aimed at addressing this global scourge.
Statistics show that there are an estimated 600 million small arms and light weapons in circulation worldwide. About half of the world’s trade in small arms is estimated to be illicit. Small arms are responsible for over half a million deaths per year, including 300,000 in armed conflict and 200,000 more from homicides and suicides.
Aware of this dire situation, parliaments can and must play an instrumental role in dealing with this illicit and deadly trade. This was the message of the IPU in January at the United Nations Preparatory Committee leading up to the Review Conference for the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. The Review Conference will be the first chance for governments around the world to review implementation and effectiveness of the Program of Action, a landmark consensus document agreed to in 2001.
This parliamentary contribution to the United Nations process reflects the findings of a report and draft resolution prepared recently by two distinguished legislators – the Honorable Ruth Oniang’o of Kenya and François de Donnea of Belgium – and submitted for consideration by national parliaments and subsequently by the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security, at the upcoming 114th Assembly of the IPU (Nairobi, May 2006).
The IPU report encourages the development of coherent national legislative frameworks for the entire "life cycle" of a weapon, from production to shipping, as well as the possession, bearing and use of firearms. It goes on to identify a series of best practices – nationally, regionally and globally – and to recommend courses of action for parliaments to deal with this process. This all stems from the recognition of the fact that in many parts of the world, combating the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons is a key element of national strategies for conflict prevention, peacebuilding, sustainable development, protection of human rights and public health and safety.
